Index frame arrangement



j 'fi J. H. RAND INDEX FRAME ARRANGEMENT Filed Aug. 22,- 1934 IIfIII III II June 22, 1937.

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Patented June 22, 1937 UNITED STATES INDEX FRAME ARRANGEMENT James H. Rand, North Falmouth, Mass., assignor to Philrand, Inc., North Falmouth, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application August 22, 1934, Serial No. V140,953

10 Claims.

of index strips or the like mounted thereon'. In

accordance with this invention, such a frame or panel may be provided with means to receive a covering or sheet of transparent resilient material such as Celluloid. This sheet may substantially cover the face of the panel to protect the individual index strips and to aid in retaining them in place while permitting them to be readily visible. Thus, a panel of this character is particularly adapted for use under adverse conditions as in a factory, workshop or the like. If the outer face of the transparent protective sheet should become soiled, it may be readily cleansed.

A further aspect of this invention relates to the arrangement of the marginal portions of the index frame, not only to afford channels to receive the edges or ends of the index slips, but also to afford reinforcing beads which may engage and protect the edges of a transparent covering strip. Panels of this character may normally be handled as separate units or, if desired, may be assembled in sets supported by larger or master frames or book-like containers, for example, containers of the character disclosed in my copending application No. 740,954, led on even date herewith which are characterized by channels to receive the ends of index elements. For this purpose, the extremity of the panel forming the subject matter of this invention may be provided with flanges projecting beyond its own marginal channels to engagethe channels of a master frame of the book type.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a broken elevational View of a frame of the book type on which my improved index frames are mounted;

Figs. 2 and 3 are sections on lines 2-'2 and 3-3, respectively, of Fig. 1;

' Fig. 4 is a broken front elevation of an optional type of frame; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are sections on lines 5-5 and 6 6, respectively, of Fig. 4.

In the accompanying drawing, the numeral I designates one leaf of a master index frame which may be of the book type and is provided with V beaded edge portions 2 extended to provide flanges 3 which cooperate with the body portion of the leaf in defining marginal channels to receive index material. One margin of each leaf may be connected to an adjoining leaf by a hinge 4. A frame-of this type is more completely disclosed in my copending application No. 740,954.' Disposed (Cl. L29-34) on the leaf I and held in place by the flanges 3 are smaller frames or index panels I0 arranged in accordance with the present invention. Each o-f the smaller panels may comprise a body portion or backing member of sheet metal, the extremities of which afford flanges I I engageable within the channels afforded by flanges 3. Between these flanges or extensions II the margins of the sheet metal member are 'bent inwardly substantially parallel to its body portion to aiford retaining flanges I4. The flanges I4 terminate in spaced relation to the end flanges II and adjoining each end of the flanges I4, ears or tabs I5 may be arranged substantially in the plane of the flanges Ill but spaced therefrom by slots I6.

Index strips I9 may be arranged upon the panel I with their ends received in the channels afforded by flanges I4. A transparent covering sheet 2i) may then be applied to the panel or frame Ill. This cover sheet has each end portion folded to provide a flat, enclosing loop V2| or at least is bent so that its extremity may hook over the ears I5 at an end of the panel I5. A reinforcing or identifying strip II which may be formed of cardboard may be disposed within the flattened loop 2I with its ends adjoining the ears I5.

The resiliency of the sheet material from which the cover 20 is made permits its ready bowing away from the panel midway between earsV I5 at one endof the panel, the strip I'I also being read-r ily distortable thus to permit removal of one or both ends of the sheet from the panel as may be desired.

The master frame I may be provided `with ears I I5 at the ends of its retaining anges 3 similar to the ears I5 employed on the smaller frameY I0; A flattened generally tubular element H5 of sheet material such as light sheet metal or Celluloid may have its extremities in interfitting relation with the ears II5. If desired, this flattened tube may receive a reinforcing or identifying strip of cardboard or the like II'I. Ordinarily the flattened tube IIS, will occupy the position illustratedin Fig. 1, thus forming a retainer at the upper and lower ends of the flanges 3 to prevent accidental removal of the smaller frames I0. When it 1s desired to remove or replace a frame IIJ, the mem-f ber IIB with its reinforcement II'IV may be distorted and bowed outwardly so that its ends are removed from engagement with ears I I5. Thereupon, the frames Ill may be slid vertically out of engagement with flanges. 3.

The type of frame illustrated in Figsfl andf `A is in general similar to that already described Y With the exception that the extensions lII are Vportion and nally being continued inwardly to afford a flange 33 similar to the flange 3 and similarly adapted to cooperate with the body portion in affording a channel to receive the end of an index strip. Fig. 4 shows the arrangement of the ears a upon this type of framathese ears receiving the looped or flattened Ytubular extremity of the cover sheet e in the manner already described with reference to the frame Hl and cover sheet 20 and, if desired, containing a reinforcing strip lla. g y

The beading 39 not only affords a substantial reinforcement for 'the frame, but permits it to have adequate strength whileiallowing the flanges 33 to berelatively narrow so that less difliculty is faced in locating the extremities of the index strips inthe marginal channels. VThe beads thus provided at the edges of the panel also extend outwardly beyond the edges of the transparent covering sheet 2lia thus affording protection for the edge of the sheet and avoiding the possibility of catching the same upon a -foreign object.

It is evident that vthis invention affords an index frame or panel adapted to be received i-n a larger frame, such as a frame of the book type and provided with a readily detachable continuous covering sheet of transparent material particularl-y effective -to protect the individual index elements or strips.A Furthermore, this linvention affords an arrangement of the marginal portion of a panel whichY not only is effective in reinforcing-the latter and affording adequate strength whilepermitting relatively narrow marginal flanges or channels, but also is effective in .protecting the edges of the transparent cover-ing -or protective sheet.

I claim: Y

1-. An index frame comprising a body portion of sheet metal, opposite inturned retaining flanges having ends spaced from the upperand lower :edges of the body portion, and inturned ears substantially in theplanes of but Yseparate Y from the` flanges, said ears being disposed kbetween the ends of the flanges and the: upper and' lowerA edges of the body portion, index `materialheld in place by the retaining flanges, and a flexible/transparent cover sheetl for saidindex material, said cover sheet having end Vportions inturned. and lhooked over said. ears, each end of the cover sheet being distortable so that it may be bent away-from the endk of the bodyportion to permit disengagement of that Yend of thesheet from the corresponding ears. Y J

2. Index. arrangement comprising a frame having a body portion of sheet material andopposite inturned retaining flanges, said il'anges kterminating in spacedrelation to the upper and lower edges of thebody portion, the body v-portion being vextended toprovide inturned ears adjoining each extremity of each lange,vsaid retaining flanges cooperating withthe body portion-to afford channels to receive indexstripaand a detachable transparent coversheet formed of v resilientmaterial and having ilattenedendloops receiving the ears in intertting engagement 1therewith,-fsaid loops-and the adjoining portions of the sheet being distortable to permit dise'n` gagement of the loops from the ears.

3. Index arrangement comprising a framehaving a body portion of sheet material and opposite inturned retaining flanges, said flanges terminating in spaced relation to the upperV and lower edges of the body portion, the body por-y tion being extended to, provide inturned ears adjoining each extremity of each flange,said retaining flanges cooperating with the body portion and affording channels to receive index strips, a detachable transparent cover sheet formed of resilient material and having flattened end loops `receiving the ears in Vinterfitting en# gagement therewith, said loops'and the adjoining portions of Vthesheet being distortable to permit disengagement of the loops from theears, and

stiff-ening strips of distortable sheet materialV Within the loops and normally extending between the ears.

4. -An index frame assembly comprising a mas.- ter frame having parallel retaining flanges, a smaller frame having parallel retaining flanges extendingat right angles to the retaining flanges of the master frame and having end flanges underlying the retaining flanges of the master moval of the smaller frame by movement along" the flanges of the Vmasterframe `toward said means. y, v v f Y5. An index frame assembly comprising a master frame having parallel retaining flanges, a

smaller frame having parallel retaining ilangesiextending at right anglesvto the retaining flanges of the master frame ,and having end flanges unr derlying the vretaining. flanges-Hof the master frame, and a 'retaining strip normally extendingV across .the ends of the retaining flanges of the master frame but being removable relative to the master frame to permit removal of the smaller frame,` the vsmaller frame beingprovided with a transparent covering sheet terminating inwardly of said end flanges and covering thearea. between vthe retaining flanges ofythe smaller frame., i

6. Anindex framecomprising a body portion of sheet..metal..havir1gA flangesat its opposite edgesprovided byextending .the metal outwardly ,Y andbending the Vsame Vto afford` a return blent portion at each of said edge'soffthe body Portion, then by extending vthe 'metal inwardlyV substantially parallel to the body Vportion `thereof a to afford a retaining flange-at Veach of said edges of the frame, each retaining flange termlnating in. spaced relation ,toV the end ofthe vcorresponding return bent portion and4 'the metal being extended inwardly from'the end of saidreturn bent portion to afford an earspacedyfrom-bun substantially coplanar with the adjoining retaln ing flange whereby two opposed ears are provided at vthe end of the frame `to receive a retaining or covering element. .i i. y

7. kIndex .frame Yassembly comprising va .master framehaving opposite coplanar retaining flanges, ears disposed at the corresponding endsof the flanges, a tubular element of distortable Y material havingits ends-engaging said ears, 'retain-V ing means extending between the npposite rends 'of the flanges, a smaller frame having end flanges disposed beneath the retaining flanges of the master frame and being held against removal by said tubular element and by said retaining means, the smaller frame having retaining anges extending at right angles to the flanges of the master frame.

8. An index frame comprising a body portion of sheet metal provided with opposite inturned retaining flanges, said flanges having their ends spaced from one end of the body portion, the body portion being provided with ears adjoining and substantially in alignment with the ends of the retaining flanges and a cover sheet of distortable transparent material having an end portion inturned and disposed beneath said ears, the opposite end of said cover sheet being detachably secured to the opposite end of the frame.

9. An index frame comprising a body portion of sheet metal provided with opposite inturned retaining flanges, said flanges having their ends spaced from one end of the body portion, the body portion being provided With ears adjoining and substantially in alignment with the ends of the retaining flanges and a cover sheet having an end portion folded to afford a attened distortable tubular element With the ears received in intertting relation With the ends of the element, whereby the intermediate part of the flattened element may be bowed outwardly to permit disengagement of its ends from said ears, the opposite end of the cover sheet having an inturned extremity extending beneath a portion ofthe frame.

10. An index frame having a sheet metal body portion and having opposite ears at its margins formed by turning extensions of the body portion back substantially parallel thereto, and a flattened tubular element of sheet material having' a continuous outer surface With end portions overlying said ears, and having an underlying inner surface with end portions underlying the ears, said tubular element being distortable so that its mid portion may be bowed away from said body portion to permit removal of the element from the ears.

JAMES I-I. RAND. 

